Recovering from a traumatic brain injury

Susan Lannon was enjoying life and training for a half marathon when she was diagnosed with two unexpected conditions — Lyme disease and Lyme arthritis in her knee.

Both left her weak and fatigued, and she had to have a procedure on her knee. She was managing the condition until one day when she was in the driveway outside her house.

“She got caught up in her crutches and fell backwards, hitting her head,” said Susan's husband Will. “At the hospital, we thought it was just a concussion and that we'd be going home the same day, but we soon learned that she would be airlifted by LifeFlight to a local trauma center.”

Susan had a traumatic brain injury that fractured her skull and led to multiple brain bleeds. She spent the next few weeks in intensive care.

Choosing inpatient rehabilitation

Once stabilized, Susan's physicians recommended she continue her recovery at either a skilled nursing home or an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Susan and Will chose Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Johnston for inpatient rehabilitation for brain injury. There, she would receive intensive therapy accompanied by 24/7 nursing care and frequent physician visits.

They both felt confident in the choice, knowing it was close to home and came highly recommended.

“It felt like a place of recovery and hope for me and for my family. Every day, I had therapy sessions in physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy,” Susan said. “Through those daily sessions, I built relationships of trust and compassion with my care team. They pushed me to keep going and supported me emotionally when the days were hard.”

At first, she was unsure of whether her life would ever be the same. But at Encompass Health, she worked closely with her care team on her primary goals: regaining the strength to walk and returning home to her husband and two daughters.

Alex Minalga, her physical therapist, said Susan worked hard in therapy and was determined to regain her quality of life.

“She was a very hard worker and put in a lot of effort during therapy to get back to the activities she enjoyed most,” Alex said. “Her eagerness to succeed was truly inspiring.”

'Family fueled my recovery'

In inpatient rehabilitation, family caregivers play a key role. While Susan was at Encompass Health Johnston, her family was by her side every day to ensure she had the support and comfort she needed.

Although her recovery was long and challenging, Susan found motivation in her family. She was determined not to miss a moment with her children.

“One of the most meaningful moments came when my daughter's elementary school held a moving up ceremony,” Susan said. “I thought I would miss it, but after a careful evaluation to keep me safe, my Encompass Health team gave me permission to attend, even if it meant going in a wheelchair. The moment wasn't about watching her walk across the stage. It was about the look on her face when she spotted me in the audience — a look that was absolutely priceless.”

Getting back to family and friends after brain injury

After her discharge from Encompass Health, Susan was excited to return to the activities that mattered most prior to her brain injury.

“This summer has been about healing, step by step. I still face dizziness, fatigue and challenges with balance and mobility,” she said. “I'm not yet back to the gym, my community roles or my routines as a mom and wife in the way I hope to be. But Encompass Health has blessed me with the foundation and the belief that it's possible.”

Susan is grateful to Encompass Health and her incredible care team for helping her finish her marathon back to life.

“My marathon training was cut short by Lyme and TBI, but finishing a race isn't the only goal,” she said. “The real marathon is finding my way back to life — to being all I was before, to my husband, my daughters, my community and even myself. That's a finish line I fully intend to cross.”